7 free things to do in Montreal this weekend
Outdoor karaoke, sunflowers, a 'black hole experience' and more! 🌻🕺
Someone poses with sunflowers. Right: Fun and games at a pub.
Hey Montreal! The weekend is fast approaching. Have you decided what you're going to do?
If summer fun has been draining your wallet, you'll be glad to know there are plenty of exciting activities and events happening that you can enjoy without spending a dime.
Whether under beautiful blue skies or indoors in case of rain — from a Taylor Swift dance party to a 'digital village' — it's time to grab your favourite people and let loose until the stress of the work week becomes a distant memory. The countdown to the end of summer is on, so let's make the most of it.
Here are seven free things to do in Montreal this weekend (August 16 to 18):
Karaoke on the street
When: Friday, August 16 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Address: Quartier Latin – Rue Borduas (beside Pub l'Île Noire)
Why You Need To Go: Do you love to sing in the shower? Why not give it a shot on dry land. As part of the Latin Quarter's summer programming, you can do karaoke on the streets of Montreal this weekend, giving you the chance to belt out your favourite tunes in front of a willing audience.
Party with Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber (their music, that is)
@airecommune Me on the dancefloor at the Soirée Taylor Swift VS Justin Bieber 😮💨💜 See you august 16th 🫡✨ #taylorswift #justinbieber #event #montreal
When: Friday, August 16 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Address: Esplanade Louvain (Aire Commune) – 50-150, rue Louvain O.
Why You Need To Go: Attention Swifties and Beliebers. A 100% Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber party is coming to Aire Commune this weekend, and as you might expect, the speakers will be bursting with these pop stars' greatest hits. Start practicing your moves and warm up your voice, too, because you'll be singing "Baby" at the top of your lungs at this dance party under the stars.
Attend free classical music concerts
When: Until August 18, 2024
Address: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) – 1600, rue Saint-Urbain
Why You Need To Go: Whether you're already an orchestral music fan or a complete novice, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra's Virée classique is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the art form, without spending hundreds of dollars.
Some sixty free activities and concerts are taking place over five days (in addition to several ticketed shows), including musical yoga, an opera screening, a zine workshop and several performances featuring a rich tapestry of Mediterranean sounds by iconic composers, including Giuseppe Verdi's "Requiem."
Check out AfroMonde Festival
When: Thursday, August 15 to Sunday, September 15
Where: Clock Tower Pier – 1, rue Quai de l'Horloge
Why You Need To Go: The 15th AfroMonde festival welcomes thousands of festival-goers each year who gather to celebrate Afro-descendant communities. With a month of free shows and activities kicking off this weekend — encompassing the arts, urban music, gastronomy, humour, fashion and technology — AfroMonde is the perfect way to add some spice to your life after a boring work week.
Accessibility: According to Tourisme Montréal, there will be "access for persons with restricted physical ability."
Play games at a pub
When: Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. or weekends from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Address: Abyss Resto-Pub – 4490, rue Jean-Talon E.
Why You Need To Go: If rain showers ruin your plans, or you simply love having a drink while discovering interesting games, you can head to the spacious and comfortable Abyss Resto-Pub in Saint-Léonard, among other game-centric Montreal pubs and cafés.
With free entry, free parking and a menu of treats and drinks that features budget-friendly options, as well as more than 500 games to try, Abyss will keep you entertained for hours on end without costing your entire paycheque.
Accessibility: Wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Visit MUTEK's 'Digital Village'
When: Thursday, August 15 to Thursday, August 29 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Address: MUTEK Village Numérique – Quartier des spectacles
Why You Need To Go: This weekend, drop by the Quartier des spectacles to explore an indoor and outdoor trail full of virtual reality installations, wall projections and interactive creations.
The twenty or so free 'Village Numérique installations' — including Isochrone's light sculptures and a 53-foot Black Hole Experience — bring the city to life as part of the MUTEK festival of electronic music and digital creativity. While the ticketed program starts on August 20, you can explore this immersive stroll as early as August 15.
Accessibility: Outdoor event. Wheelchair accessible.
Stroll among the sunflowers
When: Daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: La Prairie Louvain (Esplanade Louvain) – 9483, av. de l'Esplanade
Why You Need To Go: If the sun is shining, check out this free field of 10,000 sunflowers in the heart of the city. With yellow petals starting to brighten up their surroundings, you can snap photos as you wander around this impressive urban garden, which also contains other multi-coloured plants.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
This story was adapted from the article "9 activités GRATUITES ou à moins de 18 $ à Montréal pour un week-end de fun en gang," which was originally published on Narcity Québec by Noémi Lincourt.
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